Liberty Lions eyeing state title run in football

The Liberty High School football team won its first-ever North Coast Section (NCS) title in 2017.

Now the Lions have set their sights on capturing a state crown in 2018.

Liberty (11-2 last year) returns with a host of talent on both sides of the ball, including seven starters on offense and six on defense, said head coach Ryan Partridge, who guided the Lions to a thrilling 37-0 triumph over rival Freedom in the 2017 NCS title game in his first season.

Wide receivers Jordyn Turner – whose stock appears to be rising – Jerrin Easter-Williams, Adrik Lamar and Cody Muth and running backs John Fio, Darrion Bartley and Brenden Bell also figure prominently in the Lions’ plans in what is adding up to be another explosive and talented Liberty team.

Liberty also returns a handful of all-league defensive players in linebackers Nicholas Einess (the 2017 Bay Valley Athletic League defensive player of the year) and Ethan Dumond, defensive lineman Brock Hammer and defensive back Bell.

Borrelli, Zdroik, Watkins-Nelson and Hammer will hold down the defensive line. Dumond, Einess, Sturges-Cofer and Bartley will serve as linebackers, and Vaki and Bell will anchor the safety position. Fio is expected to serve as one corner, but a battle is on to fill the remaining corner position, Partridge said.